The Community Shield is not the most reliable guide as to who will win the title however as a day out it certainly looked splendid from my vantage point – and thankfully the two teams, Chelsea and Manchester United replaced the bore fest that was served up at the FA Cup Final 79 days earlier with something resembling a game of football.

Over ninety minutes there was very little to choose between the teams but I think a couple of markers were laid down for the coming campaign. In no particular order here are ten things that caught my attention, wetted my appetite or left me scratching my head.

Cristiano Ronaldo: After being anonymous during the FA Cup Final, Ronaldo showed up on the wide expanse of Wembley and showed just why he is rightly considered the world’s best player. I thought his desire, decision making and attitude were spot on especially as he took some tasty hammerings. The highlight was the pass to Patrice Evra for the goal by Ryan Giggs. Played with backspin, Evra did not have to change stride.

Wayne Rooney & Tal Ben Haim: I would love to see what would happen if these two ran into each other after a few beers on a Saturday night. The animosity is so apparent I’m surprised it didn’t kick off into something else. Watch out for this match-up when they meet at Old Trafford in September. Rooney has the temper while Ben Haim takes no prisoners.

Florent Malouda: Playing in a Lyon team that has strolled six consecutive league titles, Malouda sometimes struck me as a player who didn’t really fancy it ‘up him’. His 51 minute performance today certainly dispelled that thought. He took his goal so well but more importantly showed how brave he is. At 6’5’ Edwin van der Sar is a big lad, however Malouda never took his eye of the ball even though he knew he’d pay a price. Arjen Robben, if you were watching, you can see why Mourinho brought him!

Ryan Giggs: It’s hard to believe that this will be Giggsy’s 17th year as a Manchester United player. I remember asking him during the summer of 2003 when United were here in the US whether he could keep going for another two years at this level! I’m not surprised he gave me a dirty look as he put in another vintage performance.

Petr Cech: For my money Petr Cech continues to prove that he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Sure, he didn’t come up trumps in the shoot-out but throughout the game he is such a presence. In a way he reminds of the great Peter Shilton who according to his dearly departed old manager, Brian Clough, was worth ten points a season (2 points for a win back in those days).

Rio Ferdinand: As well as Malouda took his goal I can’t help but feel Mr. Casual should’ve done better. The ball over the top by Ashley Cole was a bread and butter delivery but Ferdinand was slightly wrong footed then didn’t have the strength to keep up with the Frenchman despite wanting to swap jerseys. Rio wait until the match is over next time.

John Obi Mikel: There is no doubting the skill of the twenty-year-old but boy has he got a temper. I don’t know if I was imaging it but I’m sure that on two occasions he was on the verge of man handling referee, Mark Halsey. You can’t touch a ref son and I’m sure it has been noted by Halsey’s colleagues. In 25 appearances for the Blues he already has nine yellows and two red cards – that is too many.

It meant something: Regardless of the fact that this match carried zero points you could see by the intensity of the tackling and the reaction of the United players as Rooney finished the job that it meant something. These two teams will meet up at least another two times this season and who’d bet against them tangling in the latter stages of any of the cup competitions. Players like to win whether its tiddly-winks or on penalties and every extra edge counts.

Ricardo Carvalho: They call Mourinho the ‘Portugezzer’ but it should be his countryman. If there is a player I love to hate it is Carvalho. He just knows all the tricks, the tugs, the pushes, the trips and he does them all so subtly. In my humble estimation he is the best defender in the Premiership by a country mile – it’s so annoying!

Nothing between them: Chelsea was missing the big guns of John Terry, Michael Ballack, Andry Shevchenko and Didier Drogba. United were short of Paul Scholes, Luis Saha, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves to name a few. There is nothing between these two teams and unless the chasing pack comes out flying, it will be Mourinho and Ferguson battling for the title once again.

Enjoy the season and don’t forget to check out my predictions.

Until then, get the beers in